The WNBA has produced many elite women athletes over the years. But when LeBron James was asked to name his favorite, he didn’t hesitate—he chose Diana Taurasi, one of the greatest players ever to step on the court.

On July 28, 2015, James answered an X (then Twitter) Q&A and named Diana Taurasi his favorite WNBA player. "Diana Taurasi," James wrote as a reply.

The Phoenix Suns agreed with James' choice as well, reporting the reply. James and Taurasi have known each other since their first Olympic appearance for Team USA in 2004. James has been a stout supporter of Taurasi ever since.

James’ admiration for Taurasi resurfaced years later. Back on February 25, 2025, when Taurasi announced her retirement from the sport, James talked about her in an interview with TIME's Sean Gregory.

"Just seeing her transcend the game, watching little girls want to play like her, her style, her flair, her bravado, you know," James said.

"Her swagger, it's been an unbelievable treat. She's one of the all-time greatest, and she will leave her mark on the game of basketball the moment she ties those shoes up and throws them over the pole line. It’s been an honor. All love."

There is no doubt that James has utter respect and honor for the WNBA icon, but what have been her achievements in the WNBA that have made her a living legend?

WNBA Legend Diana Taurasi's Achievements Throughout Her Career

WNBA legend Diana Taurasi was a powerhouse for the Phoenix Mercury, playing for them for 20 years without ever changing teams. She came to the WNBA in 2004 and won the Rookie of the Year award

Taurasi has also won the WNBA championship a total of three times, in 2007, 2009, and 2014. She has been the Finals MVP on two occasions, in 2009 and 2014. She also won the 2009 MVP award.

Taurasi has also appeared in 11 All-Star Games throughout her career, with the latest one being the 2024 All-Star Game. She has also featured 14 times in the All-WNBA team, of which she featured 10 times in the first team.

During her retirement announcement, Taurasi addressed what all she was going to miss after retiring from basketball.

"I’m going to miss the competition," Taurasi told in the same interview with TIME's Sean Gregory.

"I'm going to miss trying to get better every single offseason. I'm going to miss the bus rides, shootarounds. I'm going to miss the inside jokes. I'm going to miss the locker room, the things that come with being on a basketball team. All those things, I'll deeply miss."

Taurasi has undoubtedly been one of the greatest players in the WNBA and a cornerstone of the league for two decades.

Seeing James see her as her favorite player, too, just takes her eliteness to another level.

Who do you think is the greatest WNBA player ever? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by

Dhruv Singh

Edited by

Koushik Biswas